By Kevin Scheel
Spanish Teacher/ Varsity Boys Soccer Coach

From June 4th to the 14th, I traveled to Peru with 16 students from Batavia, 2 English teachers, and one other adult. We traveled the coastal desert of Lima, the mountainous highlands of the Andes, and ventured into the Amazon Rainforest near the Bolivian/Brazilian border.

We saw numerous Incan ruins, native wildlife, and beautiful architecture. We spent a day on top of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Students experienced a number of culinary delights including Aji de Gallina (a spicy chicken dish), lucuma milkshakes (based off a fruit found in Northern Peru), and cuy (guinea pig). We visited local artisans to learn about weaving and ceramics, as well as buying fruit at the San Pedro Market to take to a local school and spend time playing with the students.

We hiked through the Amazon Rainforest and saw red howler monkeys, macaws, and tarantulas. We looked up at night and saw the Southern Cross constellation and Milky Way Galaxy among the millions of visible stars. Students and Adults gained new perspective on a culture far outside of the small community of Batavia and gained memories for life.